Rotary engine



Feb. 14, 1928;

R- C. G. sTAATs-oELs Ronny ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed se' t. 30, 1925 IN V EN TOR. P0001. Pl/ 6'. G. J 77mm 05w A TTORNEYS.

[hu l-Illin- [11 Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,172

R. c. G. STAATS-OELS' ROTARY ENGINE Filed Sept. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (K E E ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES BUDOLF C. G. STAATS-OELS, OF BROOKLYN, YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed September so, 1925. Serial No. 59.483.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, and has particular reference to an engine of the rotary ur 1 An object of the invention is to provide an improved engine wherein a rotary mpeller and a rotary reaction vane are utllized to form the combustion chamber and wherein the movement of the vane after each explosion in the chamber is controlled by the injection of compressed fluid into the engine cylinder.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the engine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional vlew illustrating a portion of the control mechanism for the impeller and reaction vane.

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a different position.

Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the cycle of operation during one revolution of the engine shaft.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of packmg strips employed in connection with the invention r Fig. 12 is a side view of the packing strips.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the valve utilized to control the admission of the com bustible mixture into the engine cylinder.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the detail showing the manner of securing the reaction vane about the engine shaft.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 15 indicates the engine cylinder having the heads 16 and 17 ateach'end thereof. i

The cylinder has extending therethrough, the engine shaft 18, mounted in suitable hearings in the heads 16 and 17.

. The rotary impeller 19 is secured to the shaft 18 to rotate therewith, while the rotary reactionvane 20 is mounted upon the shaft 18for relative movement thereto. .For this purpose the vane is provided at each end between the ends of the hub portion of the impeller 19 and thecylinder heads 16 and 17. The impeller and vane combine to form a combustion chamber 23 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 2, into which a combustible mixture is fed and ignited by suitable spark plug 24 mounted in the cylinder head 17. The combustible mixture is supplied through a suitable compressor (not shown) connected to the pipe 25 and also to a valve 26 of any desired construction, said valve being controlled by a cam 27 mounted upon one end of the shaft'18.

, The valve 26 is connected to the cylinder head 16 by a pipe 28 joined to a bushing 29 in which is disposed a spring pressed ball valve 30 for normally closing the opening into the combustion chamber. When the cam 27 is operated to open the valve 26, pressure ofthe combustible mixture forces the valve 30 open, and thereby permits in gress of the mixture into the chamber 23. After the explosion takes place, the force thereof will again close the valve 30 and prevent any further mixture entering said chamber. V

The outer peripheries of the impeller 19 and vane 20 have countersunk therein sets of packing strips 31 and 32, springs 33 being provided to exert outward pressure upon the packing to maintain the same in close contact with the inner walls of the cylinder 15. The intermediate strip32 of each set is split with the inner ends arranged 111 overlapping relation and having interposed therebetween a spring 34, which exerts an outward pressure upon the strips to maintain the ends thereof in contact with the cylinder heads.

It is proposed, in connection with the present invention, to utilize compressed air in the operation of the engine to accomplish the rotation of the reaction vane, following the ignition of the combustion mixture in the chamber 23 and consequent rotation of the impeller 19, the rotation of said vane being utilized for the purpose of assisting in the exhaust of the burnt gases from the cylinder and also to permitthe impeller 19 to. continue its rotation after completing the first revolution. Inorder to rotate said vane 20 the cylinder head 16 is provided at a point substantially diametrically opposite the combustible mixture inlet, with an air inlet to which is connected a pipe 35, which is in turn connected to an air valve 36 through which compressed air passes from a suitable source of supply (not shown). The valve 36 is similar in construction to the valve 26 and is also. controlled by the cam 27 so that air will be injected. into the cylinder 15 behind the reaction vane :20 before the impeller has passed the air inlet as it is being revolved by'the ignitioi'i ot a combustible mixture behind the same.

In connection with the controlot the reaction vane there is provided a mechanism which is operated to lock the reaction vane in the position shown in Fig. 2, and at the time that the explosion in theohamber 23 takes place, and which mechanism is also re leased at a definite point in the operation to permit oi. the rotation of said vane 20. This mechanism consists of a plurality of spring pressed locking pins 37 supported in brackets 38 secured to the top of the cylinder 15 and each operated by a rocker arm 39, pivoted to the associated bracket 38.

The shaft 10 extends through the ends of the various rocker arms 39 and at one end thereof hasconnected thereto a rod ll, the opposite end of which is pivoted to another rocker arm l2, pivotally mounted upon the cylinder head 17. One end of this rocker arm has a bearing on a cam mounted upon the shaft- 18. so that the operation oi the various locking pins 37 is controlled by the rotation of the shaft.

The. reaction vane 20 is provided in its outer end with a plurality of recesses aid in the face thereof, adjacent the impeller 19, and comnnmicating with each of said recusses is a radially extending opening 4:53 of a greater depth than the recess and adapted to receive one of the locking pins 37 when the vaneis in the position shown in Fig. 4t, at which time the cycle of operation starts. At a certain stage of the operation, following the release of the vane 20, the speed of rotation of said vane will be such that the same will approach the impeller 19 and be interlocked therewith. For this purpose the vane carries in eachol its recesses 4d, a spring pressed latch 4E6 which will engage over a pin 47 disposed in a recess 48 in the impeller. This interlocking engagement continues until the vane and impeller approach the position shown in Fig. 4. At

this time the cam 4-3 operates the rocker arm 39 to permit of inward movement of the pins 37 into the recesses 44. The inner ends of the pins then engage the various latches L6 as shown inFig. 3 to release the same from engagementwith the associated pins 47. This will permit theiinpeller to become detached from the vane and directly afterwards the pins 37 enter through openings l5 to lock the vane in the position shown in Fig. l. The impeller continues to rotate to widenthe space between the same and the 'vaneand thus formthe combustion chamber 23 at which time the injection and ignition of the combustible mixture takes place.

A timing mechanism, conventionally shown at 49, and operated by the endless ele' nient 50 from the shaft 18, is utilized to control the ignition of the spark plug 24;.

Briefly, the cycle of operation of the engine is as :lollows:

l l ith the parts in the )osition shown in Fig. 5, the vane 20 is loclred, as illustrated inFig. l, and upon intake of the combustible mixture into the chamber 523, and consequent explosion, the impeller 19 is driven in the direction of the arrow. W'hen the impeller reaches the position shown in Fig. 7, the valve 36 is opened under the control of the cam 27 to admit compressed air into the cylinder behind the rotary vane and simultaneously the cam 43 actnates the various rocker arms 39 to withdraw the locking pins 37 from engagement with the vane. The vane thereupon starts to rotate in the same direction as the impeller and a slight further movement of the latter to the position shown in Fig. 8 permits the burnt gases to escape through the exhaust opening 51 in the cylinder 15, the scavenging of the burnt gases being accelerated by the movement of the vane 20 toward said opening. Following the exhaust, the vane 20 approaches the impeller 19 and when the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. 9, the latches at} will engage the pin 47 and thus interlock said parts. Continued movement brings the parts into the position shown in Fig. 10 at which time the pins 37 are permitted to move inwardly, first cngaging the latches 4.6 to release the impeller and finally entering the opening 45, at which time the parts will have made a complete revolution.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotary impeller therein, a reaction vane also in said cylinder, and cooperating with said impeller to form a combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation and means operable to inject a compressed fluid in said cylinder when said vane is released to rotate said vane in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaust burnt gases from said cylinder.

2. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotary impeller therein, a reaction vane also in said cylinder and cooperating with said impeller to form a, combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation, means actuated by the rotation of said impeller for releasing said vane, and means operable .toinject a compressed fluid in said cylinder when said vane is released to rotate said vane in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaust burnt gases from said extending through said cylinder, an impeller fixed on said shaft, a rotary vane loose on said shaft and cooperating with said impeller to form a combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation and means operable to inject a compressed fluid in said cylinder when said vane is released to rotate said vane in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaust burnt gases from said cylinder.

l. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a shaft extending through said cylinder, an impeller fixed on said shaft, a rotary vane looseon said shaft and cooperating with said impeller to form a combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation, means actuated by the rotation of said shaft for releasing said vane and means operable to inject a compressed fluid into said cylinder when said vane is released to rotate said vane relative to the shaft and in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaust burnt from said cylinder.

In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotary impeller therein, reaction vane also in said cylinder, and cooperating With said impeller to form a combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation, means operable to inject a compressed fluid in said cylinder When said vane is released to rotate said vane in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaustburnt gases from said cylinder, and means for interlocking' said vane and impeller before the latter has completed a revolution.

6. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a'rotary impeller therein, a reaction vane also in said cylinder, and cooperating with said impeller to form a combustion chamber, releasable means for holding said vane against rotation, means operable to inject a compressed fluid in said cylinder when said vane is released to rotate said vane in the direction of rotation of said impeller to exhaust burnt gases from said cylinder, means for interlocking said vane and impeller beforethe latterhas completed a revolution, said interlocking means being released by the actuation of the holding means for said vane at the completion of the revolution of said vane.

8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a shaft extending through said cylinder, a rotary impeller fixed on said shaft, a reaction vane loose on said shaft and cooperating with the impeller to form a combustion chamber,

means controlled by the rotation of said shaft to inject a compressed fluid behind said vane to rotate the same after the impeller has partially completed a revolution to exhaust burnt gases from said cylinder, means thereupon operable to interlock said impeller and vane, means actuated when the impeller has completed a revolution to stop the rotation of said vane, and release the same from interlocking engagement With said impeller, and a cam on said shatt for controlling the operation of the lastnamed means;

9. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a shaft extending through said cylinder, a rotary impeller l1XCl on said shaft, a reaction vane loose on said shaft and having a recess and a communicating opening therein, means to inject compressed fluid behind said vane to rotate the same to exhaust burnt gases from said cylinder, a latch pivoted in the recess of said vane and operable to interlock said vane with said impeller before the latter has completed a revolution, a locking pincarried by the cylinder and cam controlled means,

actuated as said impeller approaches the completion of its revolution to initially disengage said latch from the impeller and there after enter the opening in said vane to stop the rotation of said vane.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

RUDOLF o. e. sTAA'rs-oELs, 

